“I wish to show you a place.”
Violet jolted, blinking at the man. “I beg your pardon?”
He simply stared at her.
A pox on the man. “What place, and why would you wish to show it to me?”
Instead of answering, he tipped his head toward the waiting horse tethered just beyond the gate. “After you.”
“I think not.” Violet folded her arms. “Do you truly believe I’ll simply leave with you without you telling me where we are going? Does this cloak-and-dagger style work with other women?”
“Occasionally,” he said.
Violet blinked. “Occasionally?”
“When they are sensible.”
“Ah.” Cad. “Then I fear I shall disappoint you entirely,” she returned sweetly. “I make it a firm rule not to follow large, dangerous men through gates and into the unknown. It has all the makings of a cautionary tale.”
“You think me dangerous?”
“I think you very certain of yourself,” she said, lifting her chin. “And that is often far worse.”
“We’re going to a property of mine,” he answered. “And yes, it is.”
Violet scoffed. How vague. Infuriatingly vague. That told her absolutely nothing of his intentions. “And what will you do once we arrive on this property?” Her eyes narrowed on him. “You’re not planning to do away with me, are you?”
Amusement flashed in the depths of those dark pools. “Do away with you? Now why would I do that, Miss Sharpe?”
Probably not the wisest question to have asked him if she wished to draw his attention away from her. But still,hewasthe one intruding on her space. “I don’t know. You’re the ruffian here.”
“Ruffian?” His lips inched upward. “I’m simply your landlord.”
“You could have fooled me, Mr. Fury. Do all landlords behave like this? Appearing uninvited and demanding their tenants accompany them somewhere without explanation.”
“If I meant you harm, Miss Sharpe, you’d not be standing there debating the matter.”
“That is not remotely comforting.” Nothing about this handsome brute was.
He pushed off the gate, taking one deliberate step toward her. She stepped back instinctively, careful not to trample the wildflowers at her feet.
He folded his arms and regarded her steadily. “I promise no harm will befall you. Now, will you please come?”
“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” Violet muttered, mind racing ways to neatly escape this situation. Short of running, and being caught anyway, she could find no clever way to avoid what appeared to be an inevitable outing.
“You always have a choice, Miss Sharpe.”
Oh? Truly? “And yet you insist that I go.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “In this case, the choice is how you go, not if you’ll go.”
Blackguard! Ruffian! Coxcomb! “You expect me to climb on top of a horse with you?”
One dark brow lifted. “Will that be a problem?”
Yes! “Do you truly wish for me to answer that?”
“Of course.”
